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| A propaganda poster found in England, stating the need for British men and women to immigrate to Australia. |
Commonwealth Government of Australia. (1928). Australia - The Land of Opportunity, 2011, from http://vrroom.naa.gov.au/records/?ID=18887
History is represented in this artefact through the use of propaganda that is aimed toward only British men and women. It supports the ideals that are purported in the Immigration Act of 1901 by its use of effective advertising.
From the 1920’s the government extended their efforts into advertising Australia as the new land of opportunity. As this poster suggests, the appeal is not just for men who can work, but also for their families, encouraging growth and prosperity as the all-white country that the Act endorsed. The mythology that Australia was a country with plenty of opportunity was true to those of British descent, while at the same time being a myth to others. This propaganda poster existed to serve national mythology on social and political levels to inspire immigration of the most desired British stock.
This poster is an artefact of cultural industry as it had become evident that after World War 2, Australia required a larger population if it ever had to become involved in war again. Along with the offers advertised in this poster there were also the offers of assisted passage to Australia, and land grants for when these new immigrants arrived (Museum Victoria, 2010). Thus creating a ‘need’ where there previously stood a ‘want’, yet marketing Australia as a gift that none should miss out on. The poster indicates a shared value between Australia and Britain regarding the desired composition of Australia’s population.
The poster tells us that Australia was in need of immigrants to assist in populating the young country. Yet it did not want to invite just anyone. The fact that the government chose to include only British immigrants, ultimately lead to the exclusion of others. Students require knowledge such as this as it would partially explain why Australia, along with other countries, adopted immigration policies.
